Explosive emulsion composition

Abstract

An explosive, water-in-oil type emulsion composition comprising an aqueous phase of from 70-90% by weight comprising water 10-30%, oxidizing salt 50-75%, an oil phase 5-20%, an air entrapping material 1-5% and an emulsifying agent 1-5%. Nitropropanes constitute all or a portion of the fuel component.

We claim: 
     
       1. A water-in-oil emulsion explosive composition consisting essentially of (a) an aqueous phase comprised of a solution of oxidizing salts, (b) an oil phase consisting essentially of a nitroparaffin having three carbon atoms and optionally a hydrocarbon, (c) an emulsifying agent, and (d) at least one sensitizing agent. 
     
     
       2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the aqueous phase contains 5-35% water and 50-90% oxidizing salt, based on the composition as a whole. 
     
     
       3. The composition of claim 2 wherein the oxidizing salt is ammonium nitrate or a mixture thereof with sodium nitrate or calcium nitrate. 
     
     
       4. The composition of claim 3 wherein the oxidizing salt is a mixture of ammonium nitrate 40-55% and sodium nitrate 10-18% based on the total weight of the mixture. 
     
     
       5. The composition of claim 1 wherein the oil phase consists essentially of, based on the weight of the final emulsion, a nitropropane from about 1.0 wt.% to about 20.0 wt.%, paraffin wax from about 0 wt.% to about 5 wt.%, and a liquid hydrocarbon from about 0 wt.% to about 3 wt.%. 
     
     
       6. The composition of claim 1 wherein the emulsifying agent is provided by lecithin 1.0-8.0%. 
     
     
       7. The composition of claim 1 wherein the sensitizing agent is provided by hollow microspheres, 0.5-6%. 
     
     
       8. A water-in-oil emulsion explosive composition consisting essentially of (a) from about 70 wt.% to about 90 wt.%, based on the weight of the final emulsion, aqueous phase comprised of a solution of oxidizing salts, (b) from about 5 wt.% to about 20 wt.% oil phase, said oil phase essentially free of gelatinizing agent, comprising from about 1 wt.% to about 20 wt.%, based on the weight of the final emulsion, of a nitroparaffin having three carbon atoms, (c) from about 1 wt.% to about 8 wt.% of an emulsifying agent and (d) from about 0.5 to about 6 wt.% sensitizing agent. 
     
     
       9. The composition of claim 1 wherein the oil phase consists essentially of, based on the weight of the final emulsion, from about 1.0 wt.% to about 20.0 wt.% of a nitropropane, from about 0 wt.% to about 5 wt.% paraffin wax, and from about 0 wt.% to about 3 wt.% of a liquid hydrocarbon.